This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
The film is set around 1995. 17 year old scrawny Eddie is preparing for military just to follow the combat-booted footsteps of his dad, because thats what the town expects (thankfully not his family). But he is also made fun of in school and an intervention comes in the form of Amber, who like him is sort of outcast in school being bullied as a 'lesbo'. It’s Amber, finally, who points out that this mutual bind makes them an ironically well-matched couple, minus the sex part. Why not just date until school’s out, to get everyone off their backs? Things slowly start to get better for them and they are in happy space. While Amber is quicker to accept her homosexuality, finding unexpected companionship with another girl, Eddie remains longer and deeper in denial, still counting on impending military service to make the 'problem' go away. Amber eventually comes out to mom and the town and even though its not until the last scene when Eddie takes the courage to accept that he is gay; in a sweet gesture, Amber gives up all her savings to Eddie asking him to get out of this town forever to be himself.
Apparently this film is semi-autobiographical for the film maker which makes it even more interesting. A taught screenplay and keeping it light and funny and witty makes this for a very good coming-of-age story. The actors are both brilliant. Amber and Eddie, the two misfits, fit so perfectly together. The scenes like when Amber visits home to Eddie's family or how they pretend to be lovers in school are hilarious and funny but they also sort of make you question the things that teenagers have top go through because of society expectation and just them growing up. Eddie's brother was also a hoot, always giving tiny details about Eddie to their parents. Talking of parents, I wish there was a little more meat on their relationship. I felt that part was a little half-baked. The process of self-discovery can be scary for some people and Eddie is one of them. But at the heart of the story is the initially platonic relationship between two confused teenagers, that turns into a mutually supportive friendship, making sure that emotional uncertainties about sexual orientation are resolved rather than become an inhibition.
Simple story, perfect acting and direction, witty humor and lush locations make this film a very pleasant watch. We root for the kid's tender relationship and their sense of self. (7.5/10)
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